Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve

: Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, Ministry of Forests

The Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve first came about in 1976, when it became apparent that there was a great need to protect the beautiful but rare water buffalo, resident of the waters along the eastern border of Bangladesh. Later in 1987 it was declared a Ramsar site. The Nepali reserve is positioned on 175 square kilometers of lavish wetland provided by the one-kilometer long barrage set along the Koshi River. An immense area of arable land surrounded by the many marshes, mudflats, lagoons and barrage contributes this vast amount of swampland to a great extent, resulting in one of the most beautiful bird sanctuaries in all of Asia. The best time to catch sightings of the immense collection of local and migratory birds along the barrage and the many river channels is during the months of October through to March. It has to be said that one of the most exhilarating ways to explore the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is on one of the numerous nature ‘walks’. Nothing can prepare your senses for what they experience as you make your way through the thick fragrant grasslands, by passing the many tranquil waters of the vast array of river lagoons and its many remarkable wooded forests that surround the area. As you gaze about you it is evident that the reserve seems to be protected by the majestic Himalayan peaks, which range to the fifth highest mountain in the entire world, Makalu (8,463 meters).

The Koshi Tappu Reserve is an exciting alternative to the many other wildlife sanctuaries surrounding the area such as the Royal Bardiya National Park and the Royal Chitwan National Park. It is also ideal for breaking your journey especially for those adventurous mountaineers or trekkers who are making their way or returning home from their Kanchenjunga and Arun / Makalu region in Nepal. However, it is greatly recommended that you stay at least two nights to appreciate the many wonders of the reserve. If you are seeking to find a place to relax and enjoy nature at its best Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is ideal. There are three main ways to access the Reserve. Arriving by air will take approximately 45 minutes from Kathmandu to Biratnagar, giving you a wonderful bird’s eye view of the Park. Once you have landed it will still take about another hours drive to the main camp site. If you should decide to go by road, you will be taken along an unusually windy road for about 500-kms, from here you will have a splendid vantage point with scenic views lasting up to about 9 - 10 hours from the main point in Kathmandu. Lastly, you can choose to take an exciting 8 to 10 day trip down the Sun Koshi River, which will give you an unusual viewpoint and a direct route to Koshi Tappu Reserve.

Highlights of Koshi Tappu

Explore the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve

Observe the local culture and tradition

Interact with kind and warm hearted people

Bird watching

Rafting on Sapata Koshi River

Drive to the Koshi Barrage to view some bird-life and fresh water Dolphins

Pink Tower

Barahchhetra

Endangered Gangetic Dolphin

Enjoy and explore the varieties of birds

Access to Koshi Tappu

By Road : From Kakarvitta (coming from India) it is roughly 3 hours drive to the camp along the east-west highway. From Chitwan it is 300 km which takes roughly an 8 hour drive to reach the camp. From Kathmandu it is 500-kms which generally takes 12 hours. We generally do not recommend driving straight from and to Kathmandu as it is rather a long journey. This scenic route can be better enjoyed by making your visit a combination of Chitwan and Koshi holidays. At Chitwan you may like to spend at least 2 nights to enjoy some of the birds and large mammals.

By Raft : If you are rafting in one of the tributaries of the Koshi River, our camp is easily accessed by stopping your boat at Madhuban. Given prior notice of your arrival we will send escorts for your group. Our camp will be an ideal place to relax after a long journey down the river.

By Air : It is a 50 minute flight from Kathmandu to Biratnagar, and there are at least 6 flights a day. The camp is a little over an hour's drive from Biratnagar airport.

• Koshi Tappu is a rectangular shaped reserve, approximately 10 km wide and 10 km long, stretching northward from the Nepal/India border along the Sapta Koshi River. The Sapta Koshi is one of the three main tributaries of the Ganges.

• Because of its destructiveness during monsoon floods and attempt has been made to control the waters by constructing 7-10 m high embankments parallel to the river. These prevent lateral spread of the enormous monsoon flow. Control gates at the Koshi Barrage on the border with India act as a dam and also contain the river.

• Rapid and complete inundation of the reserve to depths ranging from 10 to 300 cm occurs during the monsoon. The river also changes its main course from one season to another.

• The vegetation is mainly tall khar-pater grassland with a few pater grassland with a few patches of khair-sissoo (Acacia catechu-Dalbergia sissoo) scrub forest and deciduous mixed reverie forest.

• The reserve offers important habitat for a variety of wildlife. The last surviving population (about 100 individuals) of wild buffalo or arna (Bubalus arnee arnee) is found here. They are distinguished from domestic animals by their much bigger horns. Other mammals occurring here are hog deer, wild boar, spotted deer and blue bull.

• The reserve also assists the local economy by providing fishing permits and allowing the collection of edible fruits and ferns in season.

• A total of 280 different species of birds have been recorded in the reserve. These include twenty species of ducks, two species of ibises, many storks, egrets, herons and the endangered swamp partridge and Bengal florican. The Koshi Barrage is extremely important as a resting place for migratory birds and many species recorded there are not seen elsewhere in Nepal.

• The endangered Gharial crocodile and Gangetic dolphin have been recorded in the Koshi River.

• Local villagers are permitted to collect grasses from within the reserve in January each year. These are used for thatching roofs and building house walls. Because of intensive agriculture the grasses can no longer be found outside the reserve. An estimated us $250.00 worth thatch grass was removed during January 1987.

Tourist attraction : The best time to visit Koshi Tappu is between October and March when many migratory and resident birds can be seen at the barrage and on the main river channel. Several Himalayan peaks including Makalu (8475m) the worlds fifth highest mountain, can be seen during this period of cooler clear weather. The trail along the eastern embankment of the reserve provides places to observe birds and at dusk and dawn some of the resident animals.

The government Hattisar (elephant stable) at Koshi Tappu has the distinction of biding one of the few facilities in Asia where elephants breed regularly. A semi-wild male, named Ganesh Maharaj by locals, frequently visit and mates with the females, producing a total of nine youngsters so far. Ganesh Maharaj, named after the Hindu God, is considered sacred by local people. Visitors can arrange elephant rides into the reserve from the Reserve Headquarters. Baraha Chhetra, located 5 km north of Chatara, is the site of an annual religious festival and is sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists.

Seasons :The region of Nepal experiences three distinct seasons. Summer lasting from February through May is intensely hot with minimal precipitation. Shade temperatures can reach 40 C. The monsoon commences late May or early June with frequent and violent thunderstorms. Rainfall is greatest during July but high humidity and temperatures are experienced throughout the season. Winter lasts from October through January with unclouded skies and moderate temperatures.

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A great .